Грозовой перевал / Wuthering Heights

When he saw my horse’s breast fairly pushing the barrier, he did put out his hand to unchain it, and then sullenly preceded me up the causeway, calling, as we entered the court, �Joseph, take Mr. Lockwood’s horse; and bring up some wine.’

�Here we have the whole establishment of domestics, I suppose,’ was the reflection suggested by this compound order. �No wonder the grass grows up between the flags,[1 - Flags – плиты, которыми мостят дорогу.] and cattle are the only hedgecutters.

’

Joseph was an elderly, nay, an old man: very old, perhaps, though hale and sinewy. �The Lord help us!’ he soliloquised in an undertone of peevish displeasure, while relieving me of my horse: looking, meantime, in my face so sourly that I charitably conjectured he must have need of divine aid to digest his dinner, and his pious ejaculation had no reference to my unexpected advent.

Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff’s dwelling. �Wuthering’ being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather.

Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed: one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. Happily, the architect had foresight to build it strong: the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones.

Before passing the threshold, I paused to admire a quantity of grotesque carving lavished over the front, and especially about the principal door; above which, among a wilderness of crumbling griffins and shameless little boys, I detected the date �1500,’ and the name �Hareton Earnshaw.’ I would have made a few comments, and requested a short history of the place from the surly owner; but his attitude at the door appeared to demand my speedy entrance, or complete departure, and I had no desire to aggravate his impatience previous to inspecting the penetralium.

[2 - Penetralium – святилище, внутренняя или секретная часть дома.]

One stop brought us into the family sitting-room, without any introductory lobby or passage: they call it here �the house’ preeminently.